one whisper.

one whisper was all it took for her to rush out of bed and run to the door.

flying to the outside world to the only place she felt she could trust.

at least, she felt.

she'd been going there for months, to see the mysterious lady who called herself Black Raven, who wore a mask over her face to hide it all.

she had no reason to doubt the Black Raven except for one incident.

flashback
three months earlier

the nightmares had come.

the Black Raven had instructed her to come whenever the nightmares came. tonight was such a night.

she had fled to the Black Raven's residence and slammed her body against the door.

when no consent was given, she simply pushed open the door and stepped through the threshold and went in.

and she saw the Black Raven sitting in a prayer position, and chanting to herself:

" Kill the boy
  Kill the boy
  Kill the boy"

she froze.

just two days before, she had went to her, saying that she had had nightmares of her son being killed.

transfixed, she stared.

the Black Raven almost looked up, and she fled for her life.

but the initial shock was no more. she believed that it had been a spirit speaking through the Black Raven, hence confirming all the mystic powers the Black Raven claimed to have.

so tonight, she went back again as she always did.

when she stepped into the dimly lit room, the lady sitting there looked up. her scarlet lips curved into a small smile.

"and to what do i owe this pleasure tonight, bai qian?"